Wales' tour of South Africa

"It's just making sure that you get that elusive victory over a Southern Hemisphere team, and then mentally it just changes that whole focus."

Australia and hosts England will be Wales' major pool opponents in next year's World Cup with Gatland's side hoping to improve on their fourth place at the 2011 tournament.

The penultimate pool spot will be decided in Saturday's Oceania qualifying play-off in which Fiji host Cook Islands in Suva with a further play-off place still up for grabs.

"We feel with the preparation and time together, we can go into an incredibly tough pool for the World Cup and look forward to it with some confidence," Gatland added.

Wales were leading 30-24 with three minutes remaining when referee Steve Walsh awarded a penalty try after Liam Williams shoulder-charged Cornal Hendricks just short of the try-line, something which Williams has since apologised for.

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Relive Wales' agonising last gasp defeat

Yet the result was a great improvement on the first Test in Durban, which

"We were caught out in the first half, particularly [in the first Test]," said Gatland.

"We were caught out in the first Test in Australia a couple of years ago, and New Zealand [in 2009] in the first Test as well.

"But the boys have got comfortable with the pace and intensity and have come out and proved their performances in the second week... the guys responded brilliantly.

"As a coaching team, we're proud of the way they responded because at the end of a long season they could have capitulated.

"They didn't do that, and that shows to me this group of players took their opportunity.